History is something that we have very little personal knowledge of since it all occurred in the past. Most of the time it involved people, places, dates and situations of which we have no
familiarity. Therefore, before we can start wrestling with the deeper questions about the past, it is imperative that we first improve our overall knowledge of the historical period we are
dealing with.

Researching for a History assessment piece can often be the most daunting part of the subject. However, it needn't be. Research is a systematic process that, if followed step-by-step, will become
a logical and efficient part of your work. There are nine stages of good research.

All sources, both primary and secondary, are made by people and may be biased (one-sided) and incomplete. Two people can see exactly the same incident and yet remember it differently. So too,
modern historians can study the same evidence and reach different conclusions.

Referencing systems are the best way to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism consists of presenting another person's words, research, or ideas as if they were your own. Any part of your work that is
plagiarised cannot contribute to your mark. Therefore, the more of your essay that is plagiarised, the harder it is for you to get good marks for your work.

The Study of History

Studying the discipline of History is very different from all other subjects. It is not
simply the memorisation of facts like dates, people, places and events. If that is all that History entailed, then we could use Wikipedia for everything. However, History is more about
critical thinking skills, the research process and creating academic arguments. Wikipedia will never be able to do that for us.

The study of History relies upon a range of specific skills. To get the most out of your study, and
to achieve the best marks possible in assessment tasks, you need to understand how to implement
these skills. Whilst the thought of mastering these skills may seem daunting at first, the rewards can be enormously satisfying.